jobfacts

Events manager

Events managers and organisers — SOC 2020 3557

Events managers and organisers manage, organise and coordinate business conferences, exhibitions, concerts and similar events.

Also calledConference and exhibition managerWedding plannerWedding co-ordinatorManagerEvents coordinatorHospitality managerand 52 more titles
Typical full-time pay£32,2002025 Provisional
People in the job95,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month1,700↓ 0.7%on last year · 113th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time events managers earn between £27,600 and £41,100 a year.

What full-time events managers earn, 2025
£32,200 typical£23,600lowest 10%£27,60025%£41,10075%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£27,600–£41,100)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£23,600
Lowest 20% earn less than£26,400
25%£27,600
Median£32,200
75%£41,100
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £32,200
London!£38,200
East of England!£35,500
Wales!£33,400
Scotland!£31,100
East Midlands!£28,200
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £32,200
London£38,200 (small sample)
East of England£35,500 (small sample)
Wales£33,400 (small sample)
Scotland£31,100 (small sample)
East Midlands£28,200 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £29,000
  • 2024 £29,600
  • 2025 Provisional£32,200
↑ 11% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 1,700 jobs for events managers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (1 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20262,078
Jul 20262,192
Jun 20261,530
May 20261,620
Apr 20261,493
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20261,586
Jan 20261,759
Dec 2025802
Nov 20251,652
Oct 20251,906
Sept 20251,604
Aug 20251,647
Jul 20251,859
Jun 20251,911
May 20252,327
Apr 20251,736
Mar 20251,935
Feb 20251,756
Jan 20251,560
Dec 2024817
Nov 20241,377
Oct 20241,702
Sept 20241,655
Aug 20242,170
Jul 20241,878
Jun 20241,790
May 20241,982
Apr 20241,922
Mar 20241,645
Feb 20241,653
Jan 20241,847
Dec 20231,287
Nov 20231,457
Oct 20231,525
Sept 20231,486
Aug 20231,931
Jul 20231,764
Jun 20232,580
May 20232,895
Apr 20232,200
Mar 20232,904
Feb 20232,534
Jan 20232,886
Dec 20222,467
Nov 20222,512
Oct 20223,166
Sept 20223,015
Aug 20223,085
Jul 20223,594
Jun 20223,256
May 20223,782
Apr 20223,020
Mar 20223,697
Feb 20223,449
Jan 20223,420
Dec 20212,414
Nov 20212,998
Oct 20213,069
Sept 20212,905
Aug 20213,152
Jul 20213,808
Jun 20212,539
May 20212,398
Apr 20211,626
Mar 20212,708
Feb 20212,312
Jan 20211,543
Dec 2020884
Nov 20201,294
Oct 20202,273
Sept 20201,842
Aug 2020965
Jul 20201,398
Jun 2020877
May 2020992
Apr 2020832
Mar 20202,455
Feb 20203,092
Jan 20202,616
Dec 20191,781
Nov 20192,527
Oct 20192,405
Sept 20192,410
Aug 20192,598
Jul 20192,866
Jun 20192,921
May 20192,996
Apr 20192,472
Mar 20192,705
Feb 20192,558
Jan 20192,591
Dec 20181,582
Nov 20182,421
Oct 20182,476
Sept 20182,515
Aug 20182,205
Jul 20182,574
Jun 20182,984
May 20182,258
Apr 20182,156
Mar 20182,721
Feb 20182,422
Jan 20182,697
Dec 20171,639
Nov 20172,127
Oct 20172,319
Sept 20172,335
Aug 20172,486
Jul 20172,496
Jun 20173,266
May 20173,302
Apr 20172,914
Mar 20173,411
Feb 20172,892
Jan 20173,281
Is there a shortage of events managers?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Note: uncertainty in change in hourly wage.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
24%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for sales, marketing and related associate professionals, which includes events managers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London1,447
Manchester143
Birmingham121
City of Edinburgh101
Glasgow City95
Leeds86
Liverpool64
Bristol, City of63
West Northamptonshire42
North Yorkshire41
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where events managers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 71 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from United States, India, France, ranking it 113th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of events managers
7.1%!
33%!
30%
18%!
9.2%!
3%!
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–247.1% (small sample)
25–3433% (small sample)
35–4430%
45–5418% (small sample)
55–649.2% (small sample)
65+3% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent55%
Higher education below degree!4.7%
A levels or equivalent19%
GCSEs or equivalent!12%
Other qualifications!3.3%
No qualifications!1.4%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent55%
Higher education below degree4.7% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent19%
GCSEs or equivalent12% (small sample)
Other qualifications3.3% (small sample)
No qualifications1.4% (small sample)

Main employers: event catering activities (10%), organisation of conventions and trade shows (9.4%), hotels and similar accommodation (8.3%), tertiary education (4.5%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
55%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
3
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
1 to 18 months
typically

Routes in

Events manager

You can get into this job through:

University

You may have an advantage when looking for work if you have a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree.

Relevant subjects include:

  • events management
  • marketing
  • communications
  • hospitality management
  • leisure and tourism
  • business management

University courses that include work placements will help you get practical experience and develop contacts in the industry.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You can gain relevant skills and knowledge that might help you get started in the industry by taking a course like:

  • event planning
  • event management
  • live events and promotion
  • T Level in Marketing

Some travel and tourism courses may also include an events planning option.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do one of the following apprenticeships:

  • Event Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Hospitality Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could start as an admin assistant or marketing assistant and work your way up through training and promotion.

Conference management, marketing and public relations companies would be useful to work for.

Volunteering

Volunteer work as a crew member at large events or exhibitions can be a good way to get experience, build contacts in the industry and get to know about vacancies that go unadvertised.

To find volunteering opportunities:

  • follow conference and events organisations on social media
  • look out for news of events in your local area
  • search Do IT
Apply directly

You can apply directly for jobs if you can show you have experience of working in areas like public relations, marketing or hospitality.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Employers will usually look for relevant experience and strong transferable skills, like organising, budget management and marketing.

You can get skills like these from working in industries, such as:

  • hotel conference and banqueting
  • travel
  • sales
  • PR
  • fundraising
Professional and industry bodies

You can find training opportunities and make industry contacts through organisations like:

  • Association of Event Organisers
  • Eventia
  • Association of British Professional Conference Organisers
  • The Chartered Institute of Marketing

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for events manager. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Wedding planner

You can get into this job through:

College

You can take qualifications in a related area that will teach you some of the skills you'll need for this job.

Courses include:

  • event planning
  • hospitality
  • event management
Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for this route but it may help you to get in if you have:

  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an Event Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could start as an administrator or assistant for an events management company and work your way up, or work at a wedding venue as an in-house wedding co-ordinator.

Volunteering

You could get some work experience with a wedding planner, or organise events like fun days, charity balls or fashion shows for local organisations.

Do It has information on voluntary opportunities in your area.

Apply directly

You can apply directly if you've got experience and skills from organising your own wedding, or the weddings of family and friends. Experience from other jobs would also be useful, including:

  • event management
  • hospitality and catering
  • project management
  • marketing
  • public relations
Other routes

You may find it useful to take a short course in wedding planning. These are offered by several private training organisations and can be found online.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Many wedding planners have their own social media pages or website to showcase their work, personality and style.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a wedding planner from the National Association of Professional Wedding Services.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for wedding planner. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

3 for this job

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
FdA Hospitality ManagementHigher technical5

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • discusses conference and exhibition requirements with clients and advises on facilities
  • develops proposal for the event, and presents proposal to client
  • allocates exhibition space to exhibitors
  • plans work schedules, assigns tasks, and co-ordinates the activities of designers, crafts persons, technical staff, caterers and other events staff
  • liaises closely with venue staff to ensure smooth running of the event
  • ensures that Health and Safety and other statutory regulations are met

Skills

  • confer with event staff
  • inspect event facilities
  • maintain event records
  • monitor event activities
  • negotiate contracts with event providers
  • obtain event permits
  • organise event participants' registration
  • review event bills
  • select event providers
  • solicit event publicity
  • liaise with event sponsors
  • arrange event needs
  • arrange special events
  • coordinate catering

Suits people who like

  • Leading and persuading
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business and public service associate professionals, a group of 26 jobs that includes events managers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 1.2%about 26,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

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